(Missouri Digital News) -- Former state Supreme Court Judge Michael Wolff said the two biggest problems with Missouri's criminal code are it's complexity and harsh punishments for non-violent offenders.
Wolff said the current code's redundancy has caused a number of problems in the judicial system. For example, there are currently 27 ways to be charged with assault in Missouri, which creates confusion among law enforcement officials and the public.
"If you're going to prohibit things, make things crimes, you have to tell people what it is," Wolff said.
Wolff also said too much money is being spent sending criminals charged with drug use and possession crimes to jail, when rehab would be a cheaper way to address the problem.
"The people we send to prison should be the people we're afraid of, not just the people we're mad at," Wolff said.
A joint legislative committee is meeting to discuss which changes should be made to the code. The committee is led by Sen. Jolie Justus, D-Kansas City, and Rep. Stanley Cox, R-Sedalia. The committee will begin a series of public hearings starting on Sept. 18.
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